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The Washington Nationals may have lost three of four to the New York Mets over the weekend and their hopes of climbing out of the cellar shrink with every day (they’re five and a half back with 54 games left in the regular season), but they’re in a better mindset than those Mets. Because as the Trading Deadline looms the team that was picked by many not just to repeat as NL East champs but also advance to the World Series finds itself under .500 entering the dog days of the season. Saturday the Mets made the first move in their “restructuring” by dealing Max Scherzer to Texas. The 40+ million dollar man went 20-9 while posting a 3.02 over 42 starts in his time with the Mets and even gave the club a parting gift Friday night by striking out seven Nats over seven innings in his final start for the Mets. The trade lessens the sting for those who find it tough to stomach watching players from the 2019 World Series champs on other NL East teams (we’re looking at you, Trea Turner). It also means Max’s chances at another October showcase increase in a big way (the Rangers currently lead the AL West). The question now is what other moves might the Mets make? Meanwhile the Nationals deal Jeimber Candelario to the Chicago Cubs to commence their roster reshuffle.

Records and stats are through Sunday night:

Digesting the Division- Atlanta (67-36) will enter August with a double digit lead thanks to their second series win in as many weekends over Milwaukee in what could be an October showdown. Miami (57-49) moves back into second after taking two of three from Detroit (Marlins have won five of seven). Philadelphia (56-49) dropped two of three to Pittsburgh, with fans wondering if Aaron Nola’s implosion Saturday was worse than the fielding errors and baserunning blunders in Sunday’s extra inning defeat. The New York Mets (50-55) as you know are the biggest disappointment this side of San Diego and are already entering a “modified sell” of their assets. Washington (44-62) remains in last place but take heart: they didn’t win their 44th game last year until August 31. So there’s that.

Break up the Birds- Baltimore (64-41) took two of three from the last-place New York Yankees over the weekend, winning in both thrilling (Anthony Santander’s walk-off HR after the rain delay Friday) and impressive (scoring seven first inning runs in a 9-3 rout Sunday) fashion. Things don’t lighten up a bit with four games against third place Toronto who has Home Run Derby champ Vlad Guerrero Jr. (17 homers with 66 RBI). Enjoy the summer at Camden Yards before it slips away.

Last Week’s Heroes- Riley Adams it .444 with four RBI while Jeimer Candelario hit .318 with a homer and six RBI. Stone Garrett notched five runs scored and five RBI while C.J. Abrams stole five bases and scored six runs. Josiah Gray didn’t get the win Thursday but tossed six scoreless innings against the Mets while Kyle Finnegan (2.1 scoreless innings and a save over three outings), Joe La Sorsa (2.2 scoreless over two games), and Jordan Weems (3.1 scoreless over three) shined out of the bullpen.

Last Week’s Humbled- Reliever Rico Garcia allowed four runs over two innings of work to post an ERA of 18.00. Mason Thompson topped that with an ERA of 27.00 (two runs over 0.2 frames). Patrick Corbin (nine earned runs over 12 innings pitched) and Trevor Williams (nine runs allowed over ten innings) struggled in their starts. Lane Thomas hit .125 with seven strikeouts while Dominic Smith batted .150.

Game to Watch- Monday Milwaukee drops by the district with Corbin Burnes (not Bernsen from “Major League” but a righthander who’s 9-6 with a 3.46 ERA) on the hill. Sadly the Nats didn’t adjust their rotation to have Patrick Corbin starting, but Jake Irvin has won his last two decisions.

Game to Miss- Friday Corbin is starting, only in Cincinnati against the Reds who counter with Graham Ashcraft (5.64 ERA). Skip the game and enjoy a night by the Ohio River with some Skyline Chili if you’re in the Queen City, or if you’re in the DMV enjoy a night by the Potomac at Tony & Joe’s.

Sully From Southie Speaks- the Sox swept Atlanta last week and then dropped a pair of one-run games over the weekend to San Francisco. Boston is now 14-18 in one-run games and stands two games out of the third Wild Card in the American League. Next up: fellow contenders Seattle and Toronto.